St George’s 0
Hibernians 2
Mbong 21; Edison 43;
Hibernians eased through to the fourth round of the FA Trophy following a comfortable victory over Division One side St George’s at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.
The Paolites took to the field determined not to suffer last season’s fate when they were stunned by Pietà Hotspurs at the same stage last season.
As expected, the match was a one-sided affair with the Premier League leaders outplaying their opponents as they managed to wrap up their qualification by the end of the opening 45 minutes as goals from Joseph Mbong and Luis Edison put them firmly in command.
Two goals to the good, the Paolites took their foot off the pedal when play resumed as they easily administered their advantage to set up a fourth round tie against Gozitan side Nadur Youngsters.
After suffering the ignominy of becoming the first Cup holders to go out of the competition against a Division One side last year, Hibs coach Branko Nisevic was not willing to take any chances and he named a strong formation with Henry Bonello and Clayton Failla being the only first-team players to be handed a rest.
Mbong was again called to replace Marcelo Dias who picked up an injury against Qormi last weekend. While Jonathan Pearson was preferred to Johann Bezzina.
The young Malta striker took just 21 minutes to justify his inclusion in the starting line-up when Bjorn Kristensen sent him clear and he struck a perfect low drive that had the better of St George’s goalkeeper Claude Carbonaro.
Nisevic’s team were clearly on top and they doubled their lead on 42 minutes.
The Paolites were awarded a corner-kick, from which Jackson Lima sent a teasing cross towards Edison ‘Tarabai’ who anticipated his marker and headed the ball into the net.
After 58 minutes, Rui de Gracia Gomes came close to put his name on the scoresheet twice but each time he was denied by the St George’s rearguard.
His first goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by substitute Emanuel Sevasta, who had earlier replaced the injured David Camilleri. And from the rebound, the Hibs defender saw his firm drive pushed away by Carbonaro.
With the issue long settled, the match lost much of its interest as St George’s only intent was to avoid further goals.
On 72 minutes, Carbonaro pulled off another smart save to deny Andrew Cohen while eight minutes later the St George’s goalkeeper again took centre stage when he somehow kept out a ferocious shot from Lima.
St George’s: C. Carbonaro, D. Zerafa, L. Mallia (87 O. Giordano), D. Camilleri (31 E. Sevasta), F. Ita, L. Mallia, E. Amaira, R. Tanti, A. Bonello, B. Muscat, N. Ojuola (42 G. Okechukwu).
Hibernians: J. Borg, R. Soares, A. Agius (82 Z. Scerri), J. Pearson, J. Mbong, R. De Grarcia Gomes, B. Kristensen (67 K. Tanti), J. Lima, A. Cohen, L. Edison, Jorginho (61 J. Dega-briele).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow card: Bonello.